Pam Wachira aka SHIDA , is one of Australia’s most talented and dynamic singers, songwriters and up and coming producers. She was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and migrated to Australia in 1999.
Having taught herself how to sing from the tender age of ten in Kenya she has established herself as one of Australia’s top musicians singing everything from Jazz, funk and soul and rock performing at various venues across Melbourne. Performing as a lead singer in bands such as; K for Cool, The Jive Crank, a nine piece outfit, Mondo Freaks a nine piece 80’s band, her very own funk and soul band The Mad Poets to name a few, she has rocked us with her voice at venues such as; the well renowned Night Cat in Fitzroy Melbourne to the classy Blue Diamond in the CBD and various others, for the past 13 years.
She taught herself how to sing by imitating her favorite artists back in the 80’s and 90’s when Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey were in the very prime of their careers. Her powerful voice can be likened to a cross between Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone.
Production of music was always something she was interested in up until last year when she took on the challenge and under the name SHIDA which means trouble in Swahili; she created an earthy yet electronic funk and soul sound which she calls electro-funk. Singing in English as well as Swahili and Kikuyu she is truly a talent to be reckoned with.
Her influences are as vast and broad as her capabilities, constantly evolving and creating, she grew up listening to music sang and composed in Lingala , a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Miriam Makeba, Kanda Bongo Man, MC Hammer, Michael Jackson among a myriad of others.
Currently residing in Melbourne, she recently got her first taste of radio play on 3CR where her track “The Boss” was played. Continuing to wow audiences with her musical prowess you can catch her crew performing in various venues across Melbourne.
The Mad Poets is the entertainment company she is currently establishing, so stay tuned!!. For more on SHIDA log onto http://soundcloud.com/shida_saba/sets
Kwaheri tuonane,
SHIDA